Educational wellbeing driven by despecialized contextual design

Abstract

Many university students work in poorly designed facilities and these environments negatively affect them, by causing physical discomfort and posing a threat to their wellbeing. Additionally, studies show that the physical environment can affect students’ wellbeing, satisfaction, and productivity. This research explores the effect of desks in educational facilities on students’ wellbeing. It proposes to address the characteristics of desks that would enhance physical wellbeing among students through a despecialized approach. The research investigates the current state of desks within the three campuses of Notre Dame University- Louaize (NDU). The methodology includes questionnaires regarding students’ comfort in classes, and observations of students in classrooms within different durations and courses activities. Moreover, anthropometric measurements were taken from the students. The desks and chairs that are commonly used in universities were taken as a sample of the study, and their dimensions were measured to allow a comparison of the students’ ergonomic needs with the design features of these desks and chairs. The research concluded that anthropometric measures should be determined through more detailed studies so that desks can be designed to provide better ergonomic conditions for university students. Guidelines are provided to designers and manufacturers that would provide the protection of the physical and mental health of the users according to agronomic norms.